Jennifer Garner to Make TV Return in HBO Comedy Camping, From Girls EPs Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner
Jennifer Garner will make her return to live-action television with a leading role in HBO‘s forthcoming comedy Camping, TVLine has learned.
Garner’s last regular TV gig was Alias, J.J. Abrams’ grad-student-turned-spy drama, in which she starred for five seasons. Since Alias ended in 2006, Garner has focused on her film career, taking roles in movies like Dallas Buyers Club, Butter, The Odd Life of Timothy Green and Miracles From Heaven. She also voices Mama Llama in Netflix’s animated Llama Llama.
In Camping, Garner will play Kathryn Siddell-Bauers, described as “a controlling L.A. mom who is far less cheerful than her Lululemons imply.” The series chronicles a camping trip to celebrate the 45th birthday of Walt, Kathryn’s husband. “But when the camping trip gathers Kathryn’s meek sister, holier than thou ex-best friend and a free-spirited tagalong in one place,” the official logline reads, “it becomes a weekend of tested marriages and woman-on-woman crime that won’t soon be forgotten. Plus, bears.”
The adaptation, based on Sky Atlantic’s series of the same name, will be written and executive-produced by Girls bosses Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, who also will serve as showrunners; Julia Davis — who created the original Camping — Christine Langan and Ilene S. Landress also will executive-produce.
The eight-episode limited series is slated to begin production in Los Angeles this spring.
In a statement, Konner and Dunham said, “We love Jennifer’s restraint and comedic timing, and we can’t wait for the warmth and intelligence she’ll bring to our central character, Kathryn. It’s truly a dream to have her first on our call sheet. Now we just have to write her some stunts.”
TVLine doesn’t want to say that we dreamed this into being… but we kinda dreamed this into being. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Alias‘ finale, we wrote that Garner should come back to TV in a cable project with a minimal number of episodes, and that “while we certainly wouldn’t say no to to another highly physical role for the uber-athletic actress, may we humbly suggest starting fresh with a big part on a new series that shares no DNA with the one that jumpstarted her career? And that maybe lets her smile a little more often on camera?” BOOM.
Are you looking forward to seeing Garner on your TV screen once more? Hit the comments with your thoughts!
Love Jennifer Garner but not Lena Dunham so not sure about this one.
Yep! I wish HBO knew how to quit her.
Can we be honest about Dunham? She’s a pretty talented writer. I don’t like her personally, but she’s a good writer. I think her entire “problem” is that she was, essentially, promoted too far, too fast. Nepotism played a huge part of that. She should never have been a writer-star so quickly. Regardless of her looks, I’m just not sure she’s capable of being a lead role in a project. But she can be a great writer, especially if there are some good execs riding shotgun with her. Her big problem on Girls was that she was too self indulgent with her own role as time went on. Having someone that could reign in LD’s worst instincts would be in valuable. And, like I said, I don’t care for her as an actress. Part of that is that I don’t like a lot of the things she says, or at least, I don’t like how she says them. Too much foot in mouth syndrome. But when other people speak words that LD wrote, the result can be fantastic.
I think she is under a long term deal with HBO. Girls never had good ratings and Dunham has became a pariah among many social justice groups, so I’m surprised HBO is putting something of hers into production so quickly.
Just tell me when to set my DVR!
Limited series😢😢😢
Big Little Lies and Handmaid’s Tale were both limited, too ;)
No thanks.
Oh no. I was so on board until I saw Lena Dunham’s name. Hard pass.
I couldn’t agree more!!!
The UK version was so dark and hilariously non-PC (like most of Julia Davis’ work). I feel this is going to be a typically sanitised version even with Julia’s involvement.
I can barely afford basic cable, let alone the ability to get HBO. I would have LOVED to see Ms. Garner in a series again….now it appears I won’t be able to. Pity.
i like it better when Jennifer is kicking ass.
would love to see her as Elektra again in a marvel movie.
Who is she?
Lena Dunham never impressed me as an actress, I watched Girls once that was enough. Will try this show once because of Jennifer Garner, if it’s good I will continue to watch or DVR it. Too many shows are not available to people who don’t have cable. Or Netflix etc. wish they had more stars on regular stations.
Love Jennifer!! Wished they would add her to the Gotham series…this show needs a good kick in the pants if it is going to survive! Think adding a star like her as either a villain or a helper for Gordon.would improve this show. I see they are finally going to get Bruce more into the Batman theme. I hope it is just not to late. But she would much add something to this show.